This is one of the best books on the craft of writing I've ever read!
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is not only filled with useful, insightful, and actiThis is one of the best books on the craft of writing I've ever read!
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is not only filled with useful, insightful, and actionable analysis on the structure of successful stories, but it's easy to read, which is a huge plus for an informational book. Even if you are a "pantser" and shudder at the thought of outlining, I recommend you read the beat sheet breakdown and genre explanations so that the information can percolate in your subconscious. I have no doubt that reading this book will make me a better writer.
The "Save the Cat! Beat Sheet" breaks down the traditional 3-act structure on story-telling into fifteen distinct single- or multi-scene "beats." Here's a *very* brief synopsis: Act 1 has an Opening Image, Theme Stated, Setup, Catalyst, and Debate. These beats form the backdrop for your story, introduce your main character(s), and provide the inciting incident that will propel your character to change. Act 2 turns the status quo world upside down and represents the characters chasing their "wants" rather than their "needs." Characters try to solve the story problem "the wrong way." This act includes the introduction of a B-story (sometimes a C,D,etc, for as many side stories as you want to weave in). The first half of act 2 is a section called Fun and Games, during which the character either flounders or flourishes in their new world, and culminates in a Midpoint where the character either achieves a false victory or suffers a false defeat. The second half of act 2 is where the Bad Guys Close In (both figurative and literal), culminating in the All is Lost Moment, where the character hits rock bottom. This is immediately followed by the Dark Night of the Soul, in which the character digs deep and learns the theme of the story in order to move forward and attack their problem "the right way." Act 3 starts with the "aha!" moment where the character realizes what they really "need." Then there's the Finale, which encompasses the lead up to the climax, the final confrontation, and the resolution. And lastly, there's a Final Image, which should be a foil of the opening image to highlight how the character has grown and changed.
While most of that information might seem like a no-brainer, the explanations and descriptions provided in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel certainly helped to clarify my thinking on a few points. Plus, it was a fast and enjoyable read. I highly recommend....more
Part Ghostbusters, part Beauty and the Beast, A Glimmer of Ghosts is Hunter J. Skye's debut novel and promises to be the start of an impressi4.5 stars
Part Ghostbusters, part Beauty and the Beast, A Glimmer of Ghosts is Hunter J. Skye's debut novel and promises to be the start of an impressive career. If you like ghost stories and paranormal romance, this book is for you.
The action starts off right away in a haunted graveyard, where main character Mel shows off her very unique talent. Mel suffers from narcolepsy, which causes her no end of trouble, but when in the stage between wake and sleep, she has the ability to see and sometimes interact with the spirits of the dead. This challenge-turned-strength was well thought out and expertly executed, both grounding the reader in the real world ramifications of her disorder and elevating it to the status of a superpower.
Aside from Mel, there is a cast of friends-slash-coworkers who work with Mel to produce a paranormal investigation reality show. I liked this group in general, but the fact that they were all male and all attractive made it somewhat difficult to differentiate them at first. They developed more distinctive personalities as the story progressed, but then they were notably absent from the climax. I was left a bit unsure whether Mel intended to interact with them in the future, and whether I should expect to see them in the next book of the series.
The final character on the protagonist side is the corporeal ghost of Colonel William Grayford. As Mel's main romantic interest, the scenes with Grayford are always charged and steamy. I will say that if you have triggers about forced physical contact, you may not appreciate the scene of their first meeting. Ms. Skye did a wonderful job portraying Grayford as a man from a bygone era. His demeanor, dress, and speech patterns make him easy to picture as a colonial man of grit and dignity.
On the antagonist side of the story, Mel faces both the straightforward villain of Madam Landry -- a beautiful, terrible ghost Mel meets in the first scene -- and the more elusive Shadow that stalks Mel when she enters the hypnagogic state that allows her to interact with ghosts.
The world of the story centers around the town of Portsmouth, Virginia, and the level of detail Ms. Skye put into her descriptions shows either a personal familiarity or a professional level of research. Either way, it was beautifully executed.
Ms. Skye's writing was clear, well edited, and engaging. There were a few sections that I felt dragged a little in the descriptions, such as the details of clothing and a drawn out sex scene near the end of the book. On the flip side, there were a couple scenes that didn't have quite enough detail to ground me, so I found the interactions or settings difficult to picture. But the writing was smooth and fast-paced enough that even if a glitch in the details knocked me out of the story I didn't have any trouble jumping back in.
Overall, I enjoyed this read and I'm eager for the next installment of the Hell Gate series.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Claws of the Cat was a fun "who done it" mystery. This was very much the type of story where the protagonist, and by extension the reader, f4.5 stars.
Claws of the Cat was a fun "who done it" mystery. This was very much the type of story where the protagonist, and by extension the reader, follows a trail of breadcrumb clues that lead back and forth between suspects in an intricately woven web of lies and secrets. I did not at any time feel like the solution was obvious, and while I sometimes got annoyed that the protagonist came to a realization that wasn't revealed until the next encounter, I never felt lost.
The main character in this story is a shinobi/samurai named Hiro who serves as a bodyguard and translator for a Portuguese priest doing missionary work in ancient Kyoto. This in itself lends a measure of conflict to the story, because during this time period foreigners were not allowed in Japan except by special permission, so they were quite rare. As such, Father Mateo and Hiro stood out wherever they went. However, the fact that the priest was a foreigner allowed him to ask questions and receive answers that would have been totally inappropriate for a member of polite Japanese society. Father Mateo also acts as a catalyst because it is his ignorant intervention that places his life, and by extension Hiro's mission/honor/life, on the line.
There is not a great deal revealed about Hiro other than that he is a trained shinobi posing as a samurai bodyguard, yet there is enough depth to his character and hints at backstory that he seems well-rounded and real. I would like to read more about him, which is all you can ask for from a character.
The world-building in this story was spot on and totally immersive. As someone who's done some research on Japanese culture, I was thrilled by all the details Span used to really ground the reader in historic Japan. The writing style was beautifully descriptive, and paired perfectly with the story's atmosphere. This phrase for example: "Discomfort flowed through the social strata like water running down a hill." shows both a wonderful turn of phrase, describes the current situation, and gives insight to the hierarchical social structure.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read and well-woven mystery....more
Black's writing is as beautiful and engaging as ever. However, as basically an explanation of Cardan's backstory, I didn't find very much plot in thisBlack's writing is as beautiful and engaging as ever. However, as basically an explanation of Cardan's backstory, I didn't find very much plot in this novella. You need to have read the rest of the series to get the full impact of this book.
Having read the other books, How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories gives some nice insight into Cardan's personality and fills in a few details that were pleasant, but not strictly necessary, to know. At only 173 pages with pictures to boot, it is an incredibly fast read, and well worth the diversion for any fan of the series....more
I was a bit disappointed in this installment of the Iron Druid series. The writing was good, and the humor was there, but this book lacked a cohesive I was a bit disappointed in this installment of the Iron Druid series. The writing was good, and the humor was there, but this book lacked a cohesive plot. I feel like it existed solely to tie the previous book and the next book together.
As per usual, Atticus is being targeted by every conceivable type of supernatural being, from vampires and Greek gods, to his own deities. Unfortunately, these battles take the form of a series of loosely strung together action sequences that reach no resolution. There was no satisfying ending. In fact, I spent most of the book confused what the main plotline even was.
The one event that runs through much of the story is that Granuaile needs to be bound to the earth as a full druid, but that feels like more of a sub-plot to me than the focus of an entire novel. Especially since large chunks are glossed over. The binding is mostly notable for the fact that it keeps getting interrupted.
There were several sections of dense info dumps decorated as lectures or third party story-telling that failed to hold my attention. I didn't see much character growth, though the interactions between Atticus and Oberon remain endearing. Granuaile is without a doubt one kick-ass woman, but she's also a bit flat.
All in all, not a stellar story, but a good enough read that I intend to continue. Hopefully the next book will have a little more meat....more
The second installment of Last Kids on Earth was all about disappearing zombies and the appearance of not-evil monsters. Jake and his friends get in wThe second installment of Last Kids on Earth was all about disappearing zombies and the appearance of not-evil monsters. Jake and his friends get in way over their heads, but there's a very "united we stand" vibe that sees them through.
I liked the author's attempt to give Jake an internal conflict about keeping his friends safe, though it felt a bit stretched at times.
Overall, it was a very amusing read and my daughter is certainly eager to continue the series....more
This book didn't have a whole lot of actual writing advice. It was more a collection of personal anecdotes about how the journey to success 3.5 stars.
This book didn't have a whole lot of actual writing advice. It was more a collection of personal anecdotes about how the journey to success went for this one man. From what I learned, much of that success was due to being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people -- a tactic that others cannot hope to duplicate and is therefore not particularly useful. This is not to say that Terry Brooks isn't a great writer, I love his books, but he was lucky.
There were some amusing parts, but overall the book left me with a bitter taste because it was centered around the idea that sometimes, for some people, things just magically work out, which implies that sometime (for most of us) they don't....more
This is a fun middle grade adventure with a quick pace, lots of action, and irreverent humor. I read it as a multi-night bedtime story with my eight yThis is a fun middle grade adventure with a quick pace, lots of action, and irreverent humor. I read it as a multi-night bedtime story with my eight year old, and she absolutely loved it and begged me to buy the next book in the series. Which I did. Not only is the story great for kids, the writing is high quality and the story line is engaging enough to keep adults entertained as well. There are also lots of fun illustrations and comic-like cut scenes.
The basic plot is that the world has been decimated by a monster-slash-zombie apocalypse, meaning not only did almost all the people turn into zombies but a collection of strange monsters also appeared. Our protagonist, a young teen named Jack, is having the time of his life. He was an orphan before the apocalypse, so he doesn't have the drama of a missing family to weigh him down, and against all odds his best friend and the girl he has a crush on have also managed to survive, so he's all set. The final character in their group is an ex-bully who provides the muscle to round out their team.
I love Jack's personality, mostly because he comes at the monster apocalypse from the direction of a video game -- which in my opinion is totally the right mindset for a teenager facing a monster apocalypse. In order to make the trials of daily survival more interesting, Jack has created a list of achievement badges he can earn by doing things like stealing the hats off five zombies, exploring fifty different abandoned houses, or taking a photo with someone he knew before they were zombified. And at the top of that list is the Ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success: To find and rescue his love interest, June Del Toro.
While none of the plot twists were particularly surprising (remember this is a middle grade book) they were entertaining and well-executed. I would absolutely recommend this book for kids 8-12 years old who like somewhat grim humor and geeky pop culture references....more
Anne Bishop has created an amazing world in her Others series. The consistency and depth of detail bring the world to life, while the fascin4.5 stars.
Anne Bishop has created an amazing world in her Others series. The consistency and depth of detail bring the world to life, while the fascinating "others" who populate it give it character.
Wild Country explores life in a border town that is perched on the brink of collapse. The town's previous residents were exterminated during the events of previous books in the series, and it is now an experiment in whether humans and others can find a new balance that will allow them to live together. Both sides have a vested interest in the outcome.
Probably my favorite part of this book, and this series in general, is the skill with which Bishop writes from the perspective of the others. She is able to create characters that are at once totally alien in their thinking and yet completely relatable. One thing I will mention is that people who don't like large casts probably won't enjoy this story as it is populated with dozens of secondary characters that pop up and disappear at a somewhat confounding rate.
My one complaint about the book is that there wasn't much in the way of plot driving the story. I one hundred percent enjoyed reading about the characters and the world, but I didn't find the thread of the strangers who come to town and disrupt the peace to be very compelling. The antagonist "Balckstone family" felt secondary to the more "slice of life" story of just characters trying to build a community, and the way the story wrapped up left me a little . . . meh. So if you're a very plot-driven reader, be warned. That said, the character and world exploration coupled with the compelling prose was quite enough to keep me engaged....more
Seanan McGuire continues to be one of my favorite urban fantasy authors. In this latest addition to the October Daye series, Toby faces the threat of lSeanan McGuire continues to be one of my favorite urban fantasy authors. In this latest addition to the October Daye series, Toby faces the threat of losing the family she's created for herself if she can't bring the family she was born into (but wants no part of) back together.
Toby is a snarky, practical woman who is easy to empathize with in most situations. She is joined on this adventure by her squire, who readers of the series will already know well, and Simon --- Toby's ex-nemesis turned savior and sort of father figure. Most of the internal arc of this adventure is about Toby getting to know Simon better, and realizing that even good people can make terrible decisions. She herself questions how far she'd go, what travesties she'd commit, to save someone she loves.
Toby's world is a mix of modern day San Francisco and the magical realms of faerie hidden just beyond mortal perception. McGuire blends those two realities seamlessly, creating a rich and truly unique setting.
The writing is smooth, fast-paced, and engaging, creating a compelling story that's hard to put down....more
Another fantastic installment in Briggs' Mercy Thompson series.
Fire Touched focuses on a boy who escaped from Underhill after centuries of wandering Another fantastic installment in Briggs' Mercy Thompson series.
Fire Touched focuses on a boy who escaped from Underhill after centuries of wandering the dangerous magical realm alone, but he didn't come out entirely human. Now Underhill wants him back, and the fae want him as a bargaining chip to reclaim their old homeland. Mercy and Adam, lovable bleeding hearts that they are, decide to protect the human-looking boy from all the big bads out to get him, and in doing so, claim the entire Tri-cities as their territory to defend against all comers.
I found the beginning of this book a little slow, starting off with a seemingly random scene of Mercy buying products from (basically) an Avon lady. But then a rampaging troll was set loose on the cable bridge and the story took on a more usual pace.
I really liked the character of Aiden, the young-looking boy who isn't young at all. As always, Briggs' writing really shines through in her characters. Aiden is powerful, self-assured, and rude while at the same time being just a scared little boy. He lashes out and pushes people away, but really just needs a good solid hug and someone to tell him he's safe.
The climax and wrap-up felt a little rushed to me, but were still satisfying. Mercy and her pack of do-gooder werewolves will live to fight another day . . and I can't wait to read about it....more
Overview: Once again, Ms. Black delivers a killer story in this satisfying conclusion to her Folk of the Air series. If you like darkly twisted storieOverview: Once again, Ms. Black delivers a killer story in this satisfying conclusion to her Folk of the Air series. If you like darkly twisted stories about the fae, this is a series you won't want to miss.
World building: There is little added to the world building in this book if you've read the rest of the series, but Black continues to beautifully describe the fae lands through which Jude travels. One new place she visits is the frozen north, though there isn't much there besides snow and ice. Jude's evolving powers, along with a deepening understanding of those around her, weave a rich tapestry of the world and the people and powers at play.
Character & Voice: As with the other books in this series, Jude is our narrator and the book is written in present tense. Jude is strong and capable, though riddled with doubt, both in herself and in those around her. It was a pleasure to read the interactions between Jude and Cardan, the back and forth of their twisting, evolving relationship. Likewise, Jude's complicated relationships with her family continued to deepen and fork in unforeseen ways.
Language & Mechanics: Beautifully written, expertly edited. This book was a pleasure to read. As always, I struggled with the present tense narration at first, but once I found my stride the pages flew past in a blur of engrossing storytelling. Bravo, Ms. Black!...more
Overview: Huh. Well, that happened. Sanderson's writing continues to entertain and engage, but if you're looking for a satisfying ending to the seriesOverview: Huh. Well, that happened. Sanderson's writing continues to entertain and engage, but if you're looking for a satisfying ending to the series . . . this isn't it. That said, it seems there will, at some point, be another more final finale.
World building: Hot on the heels of his "save" of Mokia, Alcatraz returns to the Hushlands in an all-out frontal assault on the most protected librarian base, the Highbrary, located under Washington D.C. Other than the vast underground structure of the librarian stronghold, most of the world building comes in the form of an increased understanding about the Smedry talents, how they were made, and what they were for.
Character & Voice: Alcatraz continues as the narrator and protagonist, alternating between being deeply engrossed in the events of the story and interjecting from his comfortable seat in the future. Sanderson pulls off a very authentic middle grade voice that my daughter really responds to and engages with.
Language & Mechanics: As a trademark of this series, each chapter is kicked off with an interjection from Alcatraz of the future, usually about a seemingly random topic. Other than these rather jolting breaks, the story flows swiftly with relatively clean prose. I say relatively because Sanderson incorporated a staggering number of footnotes in the book.
Parting thoughts: Upon finishing this book, my daughter (7 years old) was devastated that Bastille's promised conclusion is not yet available. If you have a particularly sensitive kid, you may want to hold off reading this until you can provide a more satisfying ending. Or at least be prepared to offer some kind of distraction. ...more
Overview: This story starts with a high level of intensity and never slacks off. If you liked the first book, you won't be disappointed with this seconOverview: This story starts with a high level of intensity and never slacks off. If you liked the first book, you won't be disappointed with this second installment of The School for Good and Evil.
World building: We are returned to the School for Good and Evil along with our protagonists, but the school is much changed. Rather than Good and Evil, the school is now separated into Girls and Boys. The balance has been broken, and the land has been cast into disarray by Agatha's choice to stay with her friend rather than her prince.
Character & Voice: Sophie and Agatha return as our dual protagonists, though significantly changed from the first book thanks to their experiences. Agatha is still good, though she carries a strand of doubt that shakes the foundation of her faith in Sophie and their friendship. Sophie struggles not to be evil for fear she will again turn into a witch, but she also harbors doubts about the strength of her friendship with Agatha. Both have the tumultuous emotions of teen girls, so their attitudes and decisions swing wildly as circumstances change. Along with the two protagonists, all the characters from the first book return but with their personalities turned totally on their heads. Witches are wearing makeup, princesses have gotten fat, and the princes . . . well, let's just say no one is acting particularly princely these days. The main addition to the cast was a new antagonist, the head mistress of the girl's school. She is wily and insidious, and wonderfully evil.
Language & Mechanics: The switches between narrators was usually smooth, though I did hit a few hiccups. Chainani's writing was clean and clear, with good imagery and flow. The storytelling was engaging, keeping me wanting more to the very end.
Parting thoughts: I enjoyed the book very much, though I did find myself growing annoyed with some of the more contrived twists that resulted from Sophie or Agatha's utter inability to make and stick to decisions. This may have been intentional due to the age of the characters, but I kept wanting to shake them and say, "Just get on with it already!" ...more
Overview: In some ways this book felt like a precursor to Ready Player One. We've got a nobody character with the odds stacked against him trying to avOverview: In some ways this book felt like a precursor to Ready Player One. We've got a nobody character with the odds stacked against him trying to avoid being snuffed out by a soulless corporate entity. In both books the protagonist is in a race to earn a fortune, and in both cases there is a desperate despair to the state of the world. The Running Man was a quick read full of tension and social commentary. Be forewarned however that racism and misogyny abound.
Character & Voice: The main character is a man named Ben Richards. He's unemployed, his wife prostitutes herself for cash, and their infant daughter is sick with the flu. Desperate, he agrees to run for his life for 30 days as part of a game show in exchange for money for his family. The longer he stays alive, the more money his family gets. Richards' personality and plight are easy to empathize with. He lives in despair, but hasn't let it break him. He's a fighter. The narration of the story is from an omniscient viewpoint, but the tone is gritty, crude, cynical, like Richards himself.
Language & Mechanics: The overall writing of this book was excellent. While I did come across a number of typos, the flow of the story was enough to keep me reading. King did a great job keeping tension on the page, even when there wasn't much happening in the plot. Language is a bit of an issue in this book. I think it's important to read books through the lens of the time frame in which they were written. In this case, the book was first published in 1982. As such, misogyny and racial epithets occur with high frequency. If you are easily offended by mention of racism or gender inequality you might not enjoy this story. There were also some very peculiar turns of phrase that were hard for me to follow, such as a person's face becoming "Chinese with disappointment." Personally, I have no idea what that means, and there were several other such descriptions that were equally mysterious to me, many involving some kind of racial remark.
World Building: Ben Richards' world is a terrible future version of our own. Air pollution is out of control to the point where if you don't have an air filter at all times you're going to get sick. Poverty runs rampant, though there is of course still the 1%--the privileged few. Most people zone out in front of the Free-Vees to forget about their shitty lives, and the programs on those Free-Vees are extreme survival games in which people desperate for cash risk their lives for a paycheck. The game Richards is chosen for, Running Man, has a 100% death rate. The game is rigged so no one survives. King did a great job portraying the desperation of the lower class citizens and the dangers of media brainwashing where those who control the Network control people's perceptions. (Because the book was written before on-demand streaming became a reality, it is set in a world where the population has no control over the constant bombardment of the media. The Free-Vees play what they play, people can only control whether they are on or off.)
Parting Thoughts: While I enjoyed the majority of this story, the ending felt a little anti-climactic to me. I don't want to give anything away, so I won't go into detail, but suffice it to say the tension King had built up through the story fell flat at the end....more
Overview: If you were sad to say goodbye to to Meg Cabot and Simon Wolfgard, I strongly recommend you pick up this book. While this story is 4.5 stars
Overview: If you were sad to say goodbye to to Meg Cabot and Simon Wolfgard, I strongly recommend you pick up this book. While this story is not directly related to the original books, the world of the Others continues to be intriguing and engaging, and Bishop's writing is top-notch.
World building: This book is set in the world of the other slightly after the end of the original series. The brief human rebellion against the others has been crushed and things are pretty much back to normal except that the elders are paying more attention to the two-legged predators who share their land than they did before. The majority of this story takes place in a place called The Jumbles, which is a lakeside resort at the edge of a small human city called Sproing. The city is small enough that there is little to no separation from the wild country, but somehow the humans manage to delude themselves that they are removed from the influence of the Others, or perhaps beneath their notice. But when a group of self-important city folk stir up trouble, we get to see that line between civilization and the wild country disappear.
Language and mechanics: Ann Bishop remains a masterful storyteller. Her writing is both detailed and concise, and flows with a grace that pulls a reader in and takes them for an immersive ride. This book's chapters are divided by POV, with a heading at the beginning of each that tells you which character you will be following. Most of the book is written in third person, the one exception being Vicki's chapters, which are written in first.
Character and voice: I love most of the characters in this story, especially Aggie, one of the Crowgard, and Grimshaw, the gruff police officer who take his oath to serve and protect very seriously. Probably the only character I didn't care much for was Vicki, which was disappointing since she was the primary protagonist and the only character written in the first person. There was nothing wrong with her character per se. She's an emotionally-damaged woman with low self esteem and serious body image issues. She's written well. But she never really did anything. She was like an object other characters would move around so that they could make interesting things happen. The police move her to town, the Sanguinati move her to Silent Lodge, the bad guys move her back to the Jumble. People tell her where to go and what to do through the whole book, right up until the very end. I kept waiting for her to come into her own, but she never really did. My ambivalence to Vicki is the only reason I don't consider this a five star book....more
Overview: This was a fast-paced origin story with a unique mythos. I'd recommend it for fans of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.
Characters & Overview: This was a fast-paced origin story with a unique mythos. I'd recommend it for fans of Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series.
Characters & Voice: The first thing to strike me about this book was that it was written in present tense. Personally, always find a present tense narrative a bit jarring. It takes me longer to lose myself in the story. That said, it was well done. Just something to bear in mind if you (like me) have a tense preference.
The narrative character was a woman named Anna Strong who becomes a vampire. (That's not a spoiler, it's the main premise of the story.) Anna is a strong, no-nonsense kind of woman who makes her living as a bond enforcement agent partnered with an ex-football player. She spends a lot of time being angry (not too surprising considering all that happens to her) and a lot of time having sex. (Note: the sex scenes are frequent, but not explicit.) This book had a relatively small cast, consisting primarily of Anna, her friend David, and her vampire teacher Avery. There were a few walk-on characters, and a couple others who were mentioned but never existed on the page, but Anna pretty much only interacted with David, Avery, and some bad guys. Anna's relationship with David, or rather his with her, seemed a little too close for friends or co-workers. David is *very* protective of Anna. So much so he's willing to blow off his own girlfriend to be available for Anna despite her saying she doesn't want his help. I think it's great that Anna has a solid guy friendship, but David's solicitude felt a little more like unrequited love to me. We'll have to wait and see how that plays out.
Language & Mechanics: There were several places where people said things like "You are vampire," or "what it is to be vampire," and I kept feeling like there was a word missing there. I assume Stein wrote it this way to mirror the way we say "I'm human" as opposed to "I'm a human," but it always sounded a little weird to me. Aside from that, the language flowed well. Descriptions were detailed enough without dragging on. Anna's internal thoughts and feelings were well described. One interesting mechanic was the use of mind-to-mind interactions in the book. Stein's vampires could communicate telepathically, reading thoughts, emotions, and memories. This was portrayed though the use of italicized dialog, much as an internal monologue would traditionally appear. For the most part, Stein did a great job utilizing this mechanic for a strong effect. There were only a couple times that it was unclear who was "speaking," or when the main character thought something and then added, "but I hid those thoughts," which was a little confusing.
World Building: Like many urban fantasies, Stein's book is set in an alternate version of our world. One in which vampires are not only real, but have adapted over the centuries to survive in sunlight. Stein incorporates several well-established myths about vampires while throwing others out the window in favor of her own unique twists. It's always nice to see authors interpret old stories in new ways. I was a little lost as to the setting at the beginning of the story. I eventually came to learn the book was taking place in southern California, but I was lost in the initial scenes. It's possible some of the scene descriptions would have tipped off a local, but being unfamiliar with that area, it took me a while to get my bearings.
NOTE (including a spoiler): I would not recommend this book to anyone sensitive to the topics of rape or cheating partners....more
4.5 stars. Since I'm about to dive into outlining my next book, I decided to get a quick refresher on story structure to help me decide the order of my4.5 stars. Since I'm about to dive into outlining my next book, I decided to get a quick refresher on story structure to help me decide the order of my plot elements. Enter, The 5 Elements of Story Structure. If you want a fast (and I mean super-fast) refresher on story structure, this is it. I sat down and read the whole book in about an hour. Despite it’s brevity, this book is full of useful insights and modern examples that make it both relevant and easy to understand. While there were no mind-blowing revelations to change the way I write, this book provides a great road map to story structure. I’d recommend anyone in the planning stages of their novel give it a quick read just to keep those key concepts of how to arrange a story for maximum impact fresh in their mind....more
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